Frame contact lift



Nov. 6, 1956 J. .1. PELOUCH v FRAME CONTACT LIFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20. 1952 INVENTOR. JAMES .1. PELOUCH MM fl M w NOV. 6, 1956 o c 2,769,508

FRAME CONTACT LIFT Filed May 20, 1952 r v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [igwwwwwin BY JAMES J. PELOUGH w M! M INVENTOR.

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Fatented Nov. 6, 195.6

FRAME .CONTACTLIFT James J. Pelouch, Cleveland,-hio, assignor to Farm Tools, Inc., a corporation of Ghio Applica'tion'May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,829

4 Claims. (Cl. 1S78.75)

This invention relates to a vehicle lifting hoist construction, and relates especially to a hoist having the superstructure thereof adapted to contact only the frame of a vehicle rather than the axles thereof.

Vehicle hoists are made in several standard forms, the oldest and most common being a lifting post with two horizontal trough members upon which the wheels of the vehicle drive and rest. Such a 'hoist'leaves the vehicle in exactly the same condition as when it rests upon the roadway.

Another type of hoist has two longitudinal rails closely spaced to extend between the wheels of the vehicle and contact the front and rear axles. Such a hoist allows the wheels to hang free, whereby the wheels may be removed for servicing of brakes 'andsimilar operations, but the suspension mechanism, including the-springs of the vehicle, remain in exactly the same condition as when the vehicle is resting upon the roadway.

Recently, two-post lifts have been developed in --order to leave the central area of the vehicleaccessible to the operator for various repairing and service operations. However, these hoists also contact the axles of the vehicle and consequently the springs and associated parts remain substantially the same as when the vehicle is resting upon the roadway. A two-post lift has been developed wherein the two posts are side by side'and have individual longitudinal rails. The rails are fixed with respect to the posts and cannot be adjusted for various types 'of 'frame structures. Accordingly, the rails have been provided with changeable blocks. A variety of such blocks must be kept on hand and installed 'upon'the rails before the lift can be used on a particular vehicle. Failure to obtain the correct block could possibly result in damage to the vehicle.

Each of the foregoing types of lifts have specific uses, and the two-post lifts are'especially useful for their intended purpose. However, the large majority of service stations, and the greasing department of the larger service stations, are interested'mainly in providing agood lubrication job, and consequently the operator'is interested in relaxing the springs and 'associated'parts of the vehicle. In the past the operator has manually bounced the car upon the lift in order to workthe grease well'into the springs. More recently a supplementary jack has been provided which extends between the rails of the 'hoist and contacts the frame or differential'housing in order to lift the weight of the vehicleoff the springs. Such jacks are longitudinally shiftable along the rails, or removable therefrom by the operator. However, the use of a jack or manual bouncing of the vehicle produces, at best, only a fair substitute forthe ideal condition of allowing the wheels and springs of the vehicle to hang completely relaxed. Many obstacles prevented the provision of a suitable lift to accomplish thisideal condition prior to the present invention.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a vehicle hoist adapted to contact only the frame of a -vehicle, or in other words 'to lift the vehicle without compressing the springs and associated parts of the vehicle.

thereon.

Another object of this invention is to'hoistan auto mobile in such a manner that the springs and'wheels hang free without support from the hoist in order that the wheels will drop down with respect to the fenders. of the automobile, or any fender accessories, and therebybe readily accessible without removing any of 'the fender members and for exposing otherwise unaccessible fittings.

Another objectof'this invention is'to hoist-a vehicle with the least interference to the servicing operator in gaining access to the operating parts of the vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means for adapting a foreshortened vehicle hoist structure to service substantially all makes and models 'ofvehicles.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide avehicle hoist giving a greater supporting stability to a hoisted vehicle.

And another object of this invention is to provide a minimum sized structurewhich'holds the vehicle secure- 1y.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isa perspective picture view of the improved vehicle hoist of this invention;

'Figure 2 is a sectional view through a variable position pad of the swingable type for the improved'hoist of this invention;

Figure.3 is atop plan view of an alternate type of variable position pad for holding a special purpose extension member;

Figure 4 is a sectional'view along the line 4-4 of Figure-3 Figure 5 is a top View ofthe extension'member for-zuse 'withthe alternate type pad;.and

Figure'6 is:a view similar to Figure '4 with the extension Referring'now to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates a'lift post with a superstructure mounted The superstructure comprises a longitudinal rail 12 and :a longitudinal rail 13 extending substantially parallel with respect to one another and carried by :a

cross arm 14. The cross arm 3'14 rests directly upon the lift. post 10.

The'longitudinal rails 121and 13 'of'the illustrated'lift are spaced further apart than the conventional lift .adapted'to contact the firontand rear axles of a vehicle.

The'width of 'a superstructure isthus so great that if the length of the rails were as long as the conventional lift theywould interfere withthe wheel mounting structure of the vehicles mounted thereon. Accordingly, the liftis further modified from standard practice by having the longitudinal rails 12 and 13 shortened to the extent that "they will not reach the distance between the front :and

rear axles of the average passenger "vehicle. 'In other words, the rails are less than'the average wheel'baselof present day motor cars.

The extra width provided by this construction :contributes far greater safetyandstabilityffor the "supported vehicle and substantially eliminates the possibility of the vehicle tipping sideways off of the lift as .can'happen-in the conventional lift which contacts both the front .:and rear axles to lift the vehicle. This added safety :of-llateral stability for the vehicle is important both :to prevent property damage and injury .to persons working upon the "hoisted vehicle.

In this invention, the vehicle is made laterally stable .prising a top plate. 17 and a bottom plate 18, but the term frame is not to be considered as limiting the structure to a hollow structure as illustrated.

The frame 16 is provided with a base portion 19 to rest upon the top surface of the longitudinal rail. A pivot pin'30 extends through the base 19 and the longitudinal rail upon which the pad is mounted, and is held in place by a nut 31. It is preferable that the nut 31 be locked against accidental disengagement from: the pin 30. Thus, the pad may swing about the pin 30 through a 360. path. The pad is illustrated as being pivoted from one end thereof, but of course can be a long pad pivoted in the center, if desired.

Although a pad having a solid contact face would be serviceable, the construction is improved by the provision of a plurality of holding pins 22 projecting upwardly from the surface of each pad. In each of the pads, holes 20 are provided through the top plate 17, and holes 21 through the bottom plate 18. The holding pins 19 are provided with enlarged head areas 23 and reduced shank pins 24. The end of the shank 24 is provided with a circumferential groove 26, and a lock clip 27 associated therewith in order to hold the pin 22 to a fixed maximum vertical projection out of the top plate 17. A coil'spring 25 is provided around the shank 24 in contact with the shoulder between the head. 23 and the shank 24 and in contact with the surface of bottom plate 18. Thus, the holding pins are urged upwardly through the holes 20 to the maximum distance permitted by the gauging lock clips 27, but may be forced downwardly flush withithe 7 top surface of a plate 17 by an external force.

When a vehicle is being'lifted, the holding pins 22 are urged upwardly against or on the side ofparts of the vehicle, Thus, one holding pin maybe depressed by the weight of the vehicle since a part thereof is immediately over the depressed holding pin and at the same time another of the holding pins may extend upwardly along side the same or another part of the vehicle. If a holding pin is depressed by a part of the vehicle and the vehicle moves slightly in any direction whereby that pin is released from said part, that pin will immediately snap upwardly along side of or next adjacent to that part. 1

Many times this snapping of the pins upwardly makes noise whereby the operator of the hoist knows that the pins are in holding position. If a part of the vehicle resting on theupper pad has an opening or a depression therein, a pin may snap upwardly into or be positioned in such opening or depression. The holding pin or plunger 22 may be any projection or other upwardly movable member which may be extended upwardly from the engagement structure to prevent slippage or movement of the vehicle in any direction while it is resting 'on the vehicle engagement structure of the lifting hoist.

With the vehicle hoists equipped with plungers or holding pins, the same as or similar to those illustrated or described in the present invention, there is little danger of the vehicle moving or sliding off the vehicle lift hoist. It is understood that many other vehicle hoists may be equipped with upwardly urged plungers which will prevent slipping of the vehicle and thus hold it safely.

The provision of the swingable pads 15 has made the hoist of this invention adaptable to practically all vehicles, and thereby has made a foreshortened and widened superstructure feasible for producing better lubrication and service operations with greater safety.

In Figures 3 through 6 'of the drawings a modified form of the variable pads is illustrated. Reference character 36 refers generally to the modified form. The pad or body member 36 is illustrated in substantially circular design, although such design is not essential for utility of the pad. The pad 36 comprises a frame structure 37 and a base 38 corresponding to the frame 16 and base 19 of the pad illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. A pin 39 is employed to pivotally mount the pad 36 on the superstructure, and corresponds to the pin 36' of Figure 2.

The internal structure of the pad 36comprises a longitudinal socket 40. An extension member or vehicle support 41, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, is provided with an engagement arm 42 to extend into the socket 40 of the pad or body member 36.

The extension member 41 consists essentially of the arm 42 and a secondary pad 43 mounted thereon. The secondary pad 43 may be provided, if desired, with a plurality of holding pins 44 corresponding to the holding pins 22 in Figure 2. r

The arm 42 is provided with a hook end or element 45, e

and the socket 40 of the pad 36 is provided with a downwardly extending projection 48 which constitutes or forms a downwardly facing shoulder element or mating latch wall portion 46, The socket 40 has a top wall 47 from which the projection 48 extends and also has a support member 49 at a forward portion thereof. When the secondary pad 43 is in position an intermediate portion of the arm 42 engages the support member 49 which acts as a fulcrum therefor. Therefore, in the event that the pad 36 cannot be properly placedto reach the desired supporting portion of a vehicle, the extension member 41 may be inserted into the socket 40 by holding the arm 42 at an upwardly extending angle as illustrated byvthe dotted lines in Figure 6, and extended into the socket until the end 45 of the arm 42 has passed under the latch wall portion 46. Thereafter, the arm 42 may be allowed'todrop into contact with the lower portion of the socket 40, and the hook end 45 will then engage the latch wall portion 46 to prevent unintentional with- V drawal of the arm 42. By the combination of the extra length provided by the arm 42 and the ability to pivot provided by the pin 39, the secondary pad 43 may be employed to reach v any frame width beyond the normal reach of the pad 36. a 7

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example nad that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: V V j V 1. In a vehicle lift having a superstructure, said superstructure including'a body member, said body member having a socket provided with a top wall and a support member spaced from said top wall, a vehicle support including an arm with a supporting pad on a first end thereof, a shoulder element and a hook element, means mounting one of said elements facing downwardly from said top wall, means mounting the otherof said elements projecting upwardly on the second end of said arm, said arm extending into said socket and residing within said socket with an intermediate portion engaging said support member and said arm and top wall elements interengaging, said support member constituting a fulcrum for said vehicle support whereby a downward force on said supporting pad is resisted by the arm element engaging said top wall element, and surfaces in said socket defining sufficient space vertically below said top wall element to accommodate the maximum vertical dimension of said arm element whereby removal of said vehicle support is effected by lowering said arm element away from said top wall element and pulling said arm from.

said socket. 2. In :a vehicle lift having a superstructure, said superstructure including a body member, said body member having a socket provided with a top wall and a support member spaced from said top wall, a vehicle support including an arm with a supporting pad on a first end thereof, a shoulder element and a hook element, means mounting one of said elements facing downwardly from said top wall, means mounting the other of said elements projecting upwardly on the second end of 'said arm, said am extending into said socket and residing within said socket with an intermediate portion engaging said support member and said arm and top wall elements interengaging, said support member constituting a fulcrum for said vehicle support whereby a downward force on said supporting pad is resisted by the arm element engaging said top wall element, surfaces in said socket defining sufiicient space vertically below said top wall element to accommodate the maximum vertical dimension of said arm element whereby removal of said vehicle support is effected by lowering said arm element away from said top wall element and pulling said arm from said socket, a plurality of holding pins carried in said supporting pad, and means urging each pin independently in an upward direction against or beside the part of any vehicle resting on said supporting pad.

3. In a vehicle lift having a superstructure, said superstructure including a body member, said body member having a socket provided with a top wall and a support member spaced from said top wall, a vehicle support including an arm with a supporting pad on a first end thereof, a shoulder element and a hook element, means mounting one of said elements facing downwardly from said top wall, means mounting the other of said elements facing upwardly on the second end of said arm, said arm extending into said socket and residing within said socket with an intermediate portion engaging said support member and said arm and top wall elements interengaging, said support member constituting a fulcrum for said vehicle support whereby a downward force on said supporting pad is resisted by the arm element engaging said top wall element, surfaces in said socket defining suflicient space vertically below said top wall element to accommodate the maximum vertical dimension of said arm element whereby removal of said vehicle support is effected by lowering said arm element away from said top wall element and pulling said arm from said socket, a plurality of holding pins carried in said top wall element,

means urging each pin independently in an upward direction against or beside the part of any vehicle resting on said top wall, a plurality of second holding pins carried in said supporting pad, and means urging each of said second pins independently in an upward direction against or beside the part of any vehicle resting on said supporting pad.

4. In a vehicle lift having a superstructure, said superstructure including a body member, said body member having a socket provided with a top wall having a downwardly extending projection member constituting a shoulder within said socket, a support member spaced from said top wall, :a vehicle support including an arm and a supporting pad, said arm having an upwardly extending hook on one end thereof and said vehicle supporting pad on the other end thereof, said arm extending into said socket and residing within said socket with an intermediate portion engaging said support member and said hook engaging said shoulder, said support member constituting a fulcrum for said vehicle support whereby a downward force on said supporting pad is resisted by the hook of said arm engaging said projection member, surfaces in said socket defining sufiicient space vertically below said projection member to accommodate the maximum vertical dimension of said hook of the arm whereby removal of said vehicle support is effected by lowering said hook of said arm away from said projection member and pulling said arm from said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,680 Wells Sept. 7, 1869 123,368 Todd Jan. 30, 1872 1,002,797 Appleton et al. Sept. 5, 1911 1,936,107 Cunneen NOV. 21, 1933 2,124,726 Blum July 26, 1938 2,458,986 Frey Jan. 11, 1949 2,581,137 Pelouch Jan. 1, 1952 2,593,635 Walker Apr. 22, 1952 2,612,344 Thompson Sept. 30, 1952 2,612,355 Thompson Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 426,576 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1935 497,847 Belgium Dec. 16, 1950 

